Photo courtesy of Alison Ross
Alison Ross in fall 2014
If you see a princess walking down the streets of Pickerington, feel free to bow.
Alison Ross, who is entering her senior year at Pickerington High School Central, was crowned princess of Pickerington’s bicentennial celebration after sending in an essay and interviewing for the positon.
Ross may be able to wear a crown, but in her day-to-day life, she wears many hats. As she begins 12th grade, she is considering studying biochemistry in college, on a path toward attending graduate school for optometry.
The majority of people who study optometry choose biology or chemistry for their
Photo courtesy of Alison Ross
Ross with younger brother Brian
undergraduate college major, she says so “why not combine the two?”
The Ohio State University and Indiana University have been foremost in her considerations of a future graduate school, though she has also thought of going to optometry school in Puerto Rico.
Other scientific subjects that have captured her interest include chemistry and physics. The latter appeals to her in no small part because of its application to one of her other activities: archery. After two years of practice with a recurve bow, she can hit a bull’s eye at 50 yards, and she has used her skill for examples in physics class.
Ross is also a varsity cheerleader at Central and has cheered for every season of football and basketball since she was in seventh grade. She has been involved in music for even longer.
“I started playing piano in third grade,” she says.
She was introduced to the piano by her mother, Nancy. When the Central orchestra needs a pianist, Ross fills the role.
She knows the orchestra well, as she is also its principal cellist. When the group played for judges of the Ohio Music Education Association, she performed two songs on cello and one song on piano.
Ross also gives cello lessons and participates in a Pickerington Local School District volunteer program called For the Love of Music, for which she and other students have visited three Pickerington elementary schools and helped a teacher introduce children to music.
“I enjoy working with younger kids and teaching them music,” she says.
Ross is also part of a youth praise band. She has sung and played piano in the band since its inception during her freshman year of high school, and says that music helps people with their spirituality because they can be part of it as opposed to just sitting through church service.
Ross’ talent in math and science, she says, comes from her father, Jeff. Her artistic side comes from her mother, and she also has a lot in common with younger brother Brian.
“My father and brother are really into scouting; my mother and I are into 4-H,” Ross says.
Ross is working on two projects through 4-H. One involves training her 2-year-old dog, Indy, a maltipoo (poodle-Maltese mix), for a 4-H dog competition at the Fairfield County Fair.
“He’s my first dog, so I’m amazed that I’ve been able to do so much with him,” Ross says.
She’s also sewing a dress for her senior prom, which she will show at the county fair.
Ross says that each person’s prom dress represents them.
“I’m trying to make it as original and (symbolic of) my personality as I can,” Ross says.
Francis Pellicciaro is a contributing writer. Feedback welcome at gbishop@cityscenemediagroup.com.
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